McLaren’s U.S. Sales Could Be Crippled By Other Markets’ Demand

McLarens are proving exceptionally popular, particularly in the U.S. – which, one would presume, is a good thing for Woking. Only not exactly.

Speaking to Automotive News, president of McLaren North America Tony Joseph said that if Mcaren sales bounce back in certain parts of the world throughout 2019, the company’s allocation to the U.S. market might have to be capped.

“They’re producing 20 cars per day right now. The thing that could be a challenge for us going forward is that we are overall a small-volume manufacturer.

“We’re capped in terms of what our total production could be. Last year China was a bit slow and southern Europe was a bit slow. If those markets come back on track, that could potentially cut into our volume here,” Joseph said.

Last year, McLaren sold a record 4,806 vehicles worldwide. North America represented 32.6 per cent of these sales, and with new and exciting models frequently hitting the market, it could be difficult to keep up with demand.

To ensure that the brand remains exclusive, McLaren is extremely cautious about where and when it opens new dealerships in North America. In 2018, just four new McLaren dealerships were added to the company’s portfolio in the United States. Additionally, new ownership at the brand’s dealer in Beverly Hills has seen local sales soar, making that the facility now the top-selling McLaren dealership in the world.

McLaren builds all of its vehicles at the McLaren Technology Center in Woking, England and Joseph thinks that, despite concerns about overall volume satisfying supply, they can grow in certain areas, including in the upper-echelon of the vehicle market with models like the Senna and 1035 hp Speedtail.